PRESS RELEASE

24th August 2015

Twentieth Century Gypsy and Traveller Cultural Heritage in Doncaster - Doncaster CVS wins Heritage Lottery Fund support

Doncaster CVS has received £94,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project, Twentieth Century Gypsy and Traveller Cultural Heritage in Doncaster. The project which is funded until September 2017, will work with the Gypsy and Traveller communities in Doncaster to collect oral histories, images and artefacts which represent Gypsy and Traveller Cultural Heritage in the Twentieth Century.

We will delve into the rich and vibrant history of the local Gypsy and Traveller Community in Doncaster by bringing community members together to share and record their stories, by bringing together a collection of photographic evidence and artefacts of the Twentieth Century that can be utilised by the project to produce a lasting legacy. The Community members will be accessing educational courses to learn skills such as photography, I.T, website design, creating books and improving literacy.

The project aims to create an online archive of the collected heritage, a book, magazine and various art exhibitions across Doncaster. 

The Gypsy and Traveller Community in Doncaster is long established and the population stands at approx 6 - 8000. 

This project will provide a voice to communities that are seldom heard and yet form an integral part of life in Doncaster. We want to engender a sense of pride and ownership in the project that communities are able to share not only amongst themselves but also with the wider population to create a more informed understanding of the Gypsy and Traveller community Heritage in Doncaster. 

Part of the legacy of the project is to help the Gypsy and Traveller Community feel as though they belong to the wider community of Doncaster and feel able to access cultural venues that generally present barriers. 

Commenting on the award, Norma Wardman said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are confident the project will support the desire of the Gypsy and Traveller Community in Doncaster to reclaim their Heritage." 

Fiona Spiers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Heritage is not all about castles, museum and old buildings. Memories, stories and reminiscences are a valuable way of learning about the past. The Twentieth Century Gypsy and Traveller Cultural Heritage project will preserve the important heritage by bringing the community stories to life and sharing their past.”

About Doncaster CVS

Doncaster CVS is a local infrastructure organisation, working to ensure that local community and voluntary organisations / groups get the support that they need. Established in 1943 our aim is to provide a wide range of practical support, facilitation and advice. www.doncastercvs.org.uk 

About the Heritage Lottery Fund

Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk @heritagelottery @HLFYandH

For further information, images and interviews, please contact

Violet Cannon (Project Lead) at Doncaster CVS on 01302 - 343300 ext 280